Pogo stick



Mam:h 5, 1957 w. N. GAFFNEY ErAL 2,783,997

Poco sTIlcx l Filed June 7', 1954 l nited States Patent POGO STICK William N. Gaffney and Thomas L. Weaver, Long Beach, Calif.

Application June 7, 1954, Serial No. 434,984 1 Claim. (Cl. 272-57) This invention relates to a pogo stick stilt so constructed that one of the pogo sticks may be attached to each leg of the wearer, thus enabling the used to be elevated as on stilts, and also to have the resilient eiect of the pogo stick when walking or jumping.

An object of our invention is to provide a novel pogo stick stilt which s so constructed that the lower portion thereof telescopes within the upper sleeve portion, thus enabling the upper sleeve portion to be xedly attached to the leg of a wearer, while the lower movable portion slides therein and the movement thereof does not interfere with the leg of the user.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel pogo stick stilt of the character stated, in which the lower movable portion of the pogo stick is attached to the upper sleeve portion by means of external shock cords or heavy rubber bands which are suiliciently strong to support the weight of the user.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel pogo stick stilt which is simple in construction and which can be easily manufactured, and the wearing parts thereof can be readily replaced when necessary.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front view of our pogo stick stilt.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view of our pogo stick stilt.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a front view of pogo stick stilt. j

Figure 6 is a side view of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a tube of suicient length to permit movement of the lower rod 2 which extends into the lower end thereof. The rod 2 moves vertically within the tube 1. Weight is applied to the tube 1, as will be subsequently described. A pair of oppositely arranged vertical slots 3 3 are formed in the tube 1 and these slots extend substantially the full length of the travel of the rod 2 within the tube 1. A pin 4 is tixedly mounted in the upper end of the rod 1 and this pin projects through the slots 3 3. The outer exposed ends of the pin 4 is formed as spool-like band seats 5 6, substantially as shown. A pair of lugs 7 8 are fixedly mounted adjacent the lower end of the tube 1 and these lugs project horizontally from the tube. A shock cord or heavy rubber band 9 encircles the pin 5 and the lug 7, and a similar heavy shock cord or rubber band 10 encircles the pin 6 and the lug 8. Thus the pin 4 is constantly pressed downwardly in the slot 3 and the rod 2 is thus urged in its projected or downward position until the weight of the user is applied to the tube 1. A foot plate 11 is xedly secured to the tube 1 adjacent the a slightly modified form of lower end of the slot 3 and above the lugs 7 8. A leg band 12 is secured to the upper end of the tube 1 and the leg band 12 and the foot plate 11 are connected by suitable straps or bands 13. Foot straps 14 encircle the foot of the wearer and hold the foot upon the plate 11. When in position for use the foot of the wearer is attached to the plate 11 by the straps 14 and the leg strap encircles the leg of the wearer below the knee. The tube 1 is on the outside of the leg where it does not interfere with the walking action of the user. The bands or elastic cords 9 10 will extend under the weight of the wearer and their flexing will cause the user to hop or jump as weight is shifted from one pogo stick stilt to the other. Vertical movement of the rod 2, and especially the upper end thereof, is entirely within the tube 1 and the movement of this rod will, therefore, not engage or interfere with the leg of the user during the jumping movement occasioned by the use of the pogo stick.

In Figures 5 and 6 we have shown a slightly modified form of invention in which the pogo stick stilt is grasped by the hands of the user at the upper end thereof, and the user stands upon a platform in somewhat the usual manner of pogo sticks. The modification consists of an elongated tube 15 which is open at the bottom and which is provided with one or more handles 16 at the upper end; these handles are grasped by the user. A rod 17 extends into the bottom of the tube 15. A pin 18 extends through the upper end of the rod 17 and through slots 19 19 in the wall of the tube 15. A foot plate 20 is iixedly secured at the lower end of the tube or shock cords 21 22 extend over the pin 18 at one end and over the food plate 20 at the other. It will be noted that in our construction the upper end of the tube 1 or 15 is always in the same relative position to the user, and the user does not move relative to the tube 1 at all. All vertical movement is by the rod 2 which slides within the tube 1 and, consequently, the users body does not move relative to the handle 16 in the one type nor does the body or legs of the user move vertically with relation to the upper end of the tube 1. Thus better balance is obtained and also the modification shown in Figures 1 to 4 is possible, that is, it is possible to strap or attach the tube 1 to the leg of the wearer.

Having described our invention, we claim:

A pogo stick stilt including a vertical tube, a handle on the upper end of said tube, a rod extending into the bottom of the tube and slidable therein, the lower end of the rod projecting from the tube, the upper end of said rod terminating within the tube, said tube having oppositely positioned slots extending vertically in the wall thereof, a pin extending through the rod and through said slots and projecting from the tube, a foot plate iixedly mounted on the lower end of said tube, resilient shock cords of a closed loopshape encircling the foot plate and the pin whereby the pin and the rod are urged downwardly with relation to the tube, said shock cords being positioned on the outside of said tube and parallel thereto and being held on the lugs and pin by the tension of said shock cords.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

